Blackpool have made two free transfer signings but should they dip their toes in to the loan market?
Blackpool have done their transfer business early after confirming the arrival of Watford striker Ashley Fletcher.
The former Man United forward has joined on a free transfer after his contract with the Hornets came to an end. He spent the 2023/24 season on loan at Sheffield Wednesday but failed to find the back of the net in 28 games.
Fletcher has played in League One before, scoring five times in 21 games for Barnsley in 2016. His arrival at Bloomfield Road is needed as there was a need to recruit in the strikers department after Shayne Lavery left. Last season’s top scorer Jordan Rhodes has also re-signed but in his absence, the Seasiders struggled to score.
More business is expected to be done with discussions underway with George Byers about a possible return. He is wanted by Championship and League One teams, but director David Downes has already signed him twice, so he knows what is needed to sign him.
The loan market is something to consider, especially given the success of Karamoko Dembele last season. Dembele had barely played first-team football when he arrived from Brest, but as he left the club in May, Dembele has now got interest from Premier League teams for how he performed at Blackpool.
Neil Critchley has a good record of working with young players and developing them. Before coming a head coach, he was in charge of Liverpool’s academy teams, and there are always some young players out there ready to be taken a chance on.
Here, the Gazette looks at some players that were on loan at League Two clubs last season from the Premier League and the Championship. Are these players ready to make the step up? Flick through our pages and tell us if any of these youngsters are worth signing.
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